Means for regulating steam-generating systems.



v PATENTED 001". 18, 1904.

v H. LEMP. MEANS FOR REGULATING STEAM GENERATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 2, 1902.

a SHEETS-SHEET z.

No MODEL.

' In Oenboh Herwwarww Lem W Sil witnesses:

N0. 772 20.' PATENTED 001*. 18, 1904.

I H. LBMP. MEANS FOR REGULATING STEAM GENERATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION IILEDOUTJ, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

(Dibnessls: n InQenboP Z M W 7 UNITED STATES Patented October 18, 1904. F

PATENT EIcE.

HERMANN' LEMP, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORIC MEANS FOR RE GULATING STEAM-GENERATING SYSTEMS- SPEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,420, dated October 18, 1904:.

Application filed October 2, 1902. Serial No. 125,669. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMANN LEMP, a citizen of the United-States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Regulating Steam-Generating Systems, of which the following is a proportionate amounts.

specification.

In operating flash-boilers and hydrocarbonburners it is necessary for economical working to supply them with water and fuel in It is also necessary in order to avoid injury to the boiler structure. As the demand on the boiler varies, the amounts of water and fuel delivered to the boiler and burner should be correspondingly varied. In certain types of apparatus this varying has been done automatically and in other types manually, and it is to the latter type of apparatus more especially that this invention relates.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple means whereby the steam delivered by a flash-boiler can be varied as to pressure and temperature over wide ranges in order to meet the varying conditions of service by means under the control of the operator.

For a consideration of what I consider to be novel and my invention attention is called to the accompanying description and to the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a flash-boiler systemequipped with my improved regulating device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a self-propelled vehicle with certain of the parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View of the means employed to limit the out Fig. 4'

2 of any suitable construction. The boiler and burner are surrounded by a suitable casing 3, which is preferably covered with asbestos or other heat-retaining device and has the necessary flue-openings for natural and forced draft. The fire-chamber is provided with openings, as indicated in dotted lines, to admit the necessary amount of air to support combustion. Steam superheated to a greater or less degree is delivered from the boiler to an engine 4, and its passage is controlled by the throttle-valve 5. The exhaust from the engine is preferably discharged into the easing by the pipe 5, so as to create a forced downdraft when the system is in operation. 6 represents a vehicle-axle or other driven shaft, which is geared to the engine in any desired manner, as by a sprocket and chain. On the shaft is mounted an eccentric? of constant throw or movement,'having the usual eccentric-strap surrounding it.

In order to supply water to the boiler, a tank 8 is provided, having a connection leading to the boiler, and in circuit therewith is a pump 9, having a suction-valve 10 and a delivery-valve l1. Bolted or otherwise secured to the water-pump cylinder is a smaller cylinder 12, forming a part of the fuel-pump. This latter pump is connected to the burner 2 and to the fuel-tank 13, the tank being situated above the burner, so as to cause the fuel to flow by gravity. To the tank is connected a manually-actuated air-pump 13, whereby an initial pressure may be imparted to the fuel system. After the power fuel-pump 12 starts into operation it is evident that the pressure on the burner will be increased to the proper point for running. The fuel and water pumps should be so constructed that the amounts of fluid delivered thereby bear a fixed relation. This relation will vary slightly with the character of the fuel employed; but once the pumps are adjusted I find it desirable to leave them. In this manner the system is not liable to get out of order, due to manipulation by relatively unskilled persons, and no thought is required of them as to whether or not the fuel and water conditions are correct. The pistons are mechanically united by a frame 1a, which preserves their fixed relation at all times, and to this frame is secured aiiexible driving or operating connection 15 of special construction. The connection may be made out of leather belting, of wire rope, or of chain, as shown. The rear end of the connection is secured to the strap surrounding the eecentrieT. The frame 14 is moved in the opposite direction (to the left) by the extension spring or springs 16, and it is evidentthat it or they will withdraw the piston from the waterpump to the outer limit if nothing is interposed to stop it. The pistons in the two pumps are so arranged that as one moves into its cylinder the other moves out. The effect of this is the same as though they both moved in the same direc tion, and limiting the stroke of one will correspondingly limit the stroke of the other, thus preserving the relation between their deliveries. To regulate the extent of movement of the frame, and therefore the stroke of the pistons, an adjustable abutment is provided, comprising in the present form of my invention a flexible connection 17*such as a piece of belt, a rope, or chain and an adjustable arm 18. The arm'is adjusted by a manually-actuated device, such as the handle 19.

It is evident that the flexible connection 15 constitutes a lost-motion connection between the eccentric and the pump-pistons and that if the outer stop of the pistons is altered the lost motion period will also be changed. When the pumps are working their full stroke, I find it desirable to have the eccentric do full duty for its entire revolution or movement; but obviously the parts can be so arranged that the eccentric works through only a portion of each revolution.

I have shown the pistons arranged as the movable elements in the pumps; but the pistons can be held stationary and the cylinders arranged to work. The springs are shown as tending to withdraw the pistons at all times; but this arrangement can be reversed and the springs employed to force the piston inward and the lost-motion connection to pull them out.

Assuming that the full stroke of the eccentric is four inches, the adjustable abutment is arranged so that it will permit the pistons to move their full stroke of four inches or hold them stationary or permit of an intermediate movement. Assuming that the parts are adjusted as shown in broken and dotted lines, which means that the piston-strokes are less than their maximum, the action is as follows: V hen the eccentric starts on its outward or power stroke, the slack in the flexible driving connection 15 is taken up, fast at first, but later more slowly as the eccentric begins the Working portion of its movement. As the connection becomes more nearly taut the takeup naturally decreases in amount, and at about the time it becomes taut the pistons start into operation. It is to be noted that this is not due to the eccentricity of the part 7, for the same action takes place where a reciprocating block is employed.

One important advantage attained by my improved mechanism is that when the stroke of the pump or pumps is anything less than the maximum theload on the driving-sha ft is decreased by an amount proportional thereto. If the pumps are only working at hal f-stroke, the eccentric will only work for a half of its rotation, and the balance of the stroke will be idle except for the taking up of the slack in the driving connection. Obviously any saving in the amount of power required to drive the pumps means a saving in fuel and water, and since the carrying capacity of an automobile is limited the saving is of importance.

In Fig. 2, 20 represents the vehicle-body, and 21 the wheels. Power is transmitted from the engine 22 to the rear axle by the sprocketchain 23. The engine, boiler, and the means for adjusting the stroke of the pumps are supported on the cross-beams of the body. The pumps are supported on a cross-l 1am in front of the engine.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 1, 18 represents the pivoted bell-crank lever, which is attached at one end to the flexible connection 17 and on the other is provided with a movable nut 25. The lever is pivoted in a holder 26, and guided by the holder is a screw 27, that passes through the nut and adjusts the position of the lever. The screw can be rotated in one direction or the other by the hand-wheel 19, and as its position is changed the stroke of the fuel and water pumps is altered.

Referring to Figs. (3 and T, l have shown a slight modification of my invention in so far as the driving means for the pumps is con cerned; but the same adjustable and yielding abutment for the pumps is employed. On the axle is a cam 30, and mounted for operative engagement therewith is a roller-carrying arm 31. Obviously the cam and eccentric a re the same thing, the only difference being in the name. The arm 31 is rigidly connected to a shaft 32, that extends parallel with the axle, which shaft is supported in suitable bearings. On the opposite end of the shaft is a lever 32%, which is connected by a rod 34 with the frame 1 1 of the pumps. The outward stroke of the pump-pistons is limited by the flexible connection previously described. \Vhen the pistons are working their maximum stroke, the roller on the arm 31 is in contact with the cam at all times, because of the tension exerted by the springs 16; but as their strokes decrease in length, due to the action of the yielding abutment, the period of contact is correspondingly decreased, and consequently the work demanded of the cam and its d riving-shaft is decreased. In other words, during a portion of its movement the cam is idle, because the roller log in Fig. 1.

. movement of the fuel-pump piston, so that their actions take place unnoticed. I

I am aware that it has been suggested to supply waterand fuel to aboiler and burner,

respectively, by pumps, which are mechanically connected and operated by cams; but in this case a separatecam has to be provided for each new step or change in the amount of water and fuel delivered, which causes more or less difliculty in changing from one operative position to another, whereas with my improved apparatus only one cam is used and the variations in amounts of fuel and water supplied can be varied indefinitely. An advantage of my construction resides in the fact that the pumps can be readily adjusted to furnish the exact amount necessary under any given condition up to the limit of the apparatus, which condition varies, of course, with the load and condition of the road.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In combination, a device comprising a piston and cylinder, a driving-shaft, a flexible driving connection that is permanently connected to the shaft and tothe device and is capable of intermittently acting as a lost-motion connection, and a means for varying the amount of lost motion.

2. In combination, a device comprising a piston and cylinder, means normally tending to maintain one withdrawn from the other, a driving-shaft, and a flexible driving connection that is permanently connected to the shaft and to the moving element of said device and is capableof intermittently acting as a lostmotion' connection.

3. In combination, a variable-stroke pump comprising a movable and a stationary part, springs for moving one of the parts in one directioma driving-shaft, and a yielding connection' between the pump and the driving connection.

4. In combination, a pump comprising a movable and a stationary element, a drivingshaft, a flexible driving connection between the movable element and the shaft, andelastic means for opposing the action of said connection.

5. In combination, a piston, a cylinder, andderedactive by the flexible connection for imparting motion in'the other direction.

6. In combination, avariable-stroke pump, manually-adjustable means permanently connected with the piston of the pump for varying the stroke thereof, an actuator, and a lostmotion device permanently attached to the actuator and the moving element of the pump.

7. In combination, a pump, an abutment attached to the movable element thereof, a manually adjustable means for regulating the movement of the abutment, a pump-actuator, a lost-motion device attached to the actuator and movable element of the pump, and avariable means exerting a tension in opposition to the actuator and the abutment and tending to maintain the movable element of the pump withdrawn from the stationary part thereof.

8. In combination, a pump, an adjustable abutment connected with the pump-piston for checking its motion in one direction, and a driving mechanism flexibly connected with the piston for imparting motion thereto in the opposite direction and cooperating with the adjustable abutment whereby the move ment of said mechanism may be wholly or partially limited.

9. In combination, a cylinder, a piston, a spring for moving the piston in the cylinder, an adjustable abutment flexibly connected with the piston for checking the motion thereof due to the spring, and an actuator for moving the piston in the opposite direction.

10. In combination, a pump comprising a piston and cylinder, and a flexible stop connected with the moving element of the pump, the same being adjustable for varying the movement of the moving member.

11. In combination, a pump comprising a piston and cylinder, a flexible driving connection, and an adjustable and flexible stop cooperating therewith whereby variable reciprocating motion. can be imparted to the moving element of the pump.

12. In combination,apump, adriving-shaft, a flexible driving connection between the shaft and the moving part of the pump, a flexible stop therefor, and means for adjusting the stop for varying the effective driving power upon the moving part of the pump.

13. In combination, a'motor, a pump driven thereby, and a manually-adjustable and flexible stop for the moving element of the pump, whereby the effective stroke of the pump can be varied.

14. In combination, an engine, a boiler, a fire-chamber, a pump for supplying liquid to the boiler, a pump for supplying fuel to the chamber, and a manually-adjustable stop for the moving element of the pump forming a permanent flexible connection therewith, whereby the effective strokes of the pumps can be varied.

' 15. In combination, a pair of pumps which are arranged to deliver fluid in proportionate amounts, a lost-motion driving connection,and an adjustable stop flexibly connected with both pumps for limiting the amount of fluid delivered thereby.

16. In combination, aboiler, alire-chamber, a pump for delivering liquid to the boiler, a pump for delivering fuel to the fire-chamber, a driving mechanism which is capable of imparting movement to the pump-pistons ranging from minimum to maximum, and a means flexibly connected with and common to both pumps for limiting the strokes thereof independent of the driving means.

17. In combination,avehicle,aboilermounted thereon, a Water-pump carried by the vehicle-frame, an engine for driving the vehicle, a motion-transmitting mechanism driven by the engine, a lost-motion driving device lorming a flexible connection between the pump and the mechanism, an adjustable stop for varying the stroke oi the pump, and a manual means for adjusting the stop.

18. In a vehicle, the con'ibination 01 a boiler, a fire-chamber, water and luel pumps mounted on the vehicle-frame, an eccentric driven by the axle, a flexible connection between the eecentric and the pumps, a yielding back-stop for the pumps, and a manual actuator for the back-stop.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of September, 1902.

HERMANN LEMP. Witnesses:

HENRY O. nsrmnnnr, DUGALD MoK. Mo KI Lu W. 

